A national party no more?  —  The Republicans are in danger of being confined to the South  —  THREE years ago Zell Miller, then a Democratic senator for Georgia, published an anguished book entitled "A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat".

The Tom Friedman disease consumes Establishment Washington  —  (updated below)  —  Someone e-mailed me several days ago to say that while it is fruitful and necessary to chronicle the dishonest historical record of pundits and political figures when it comes to Iraq, I deserve to be chastised …

Aides: Pelosi taps Reyes to head intelligence committee … WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi has chosen a Border-Patrol-agent-turned-congressman to lead the House intelligence committee, according to congressional aides.  —  Democratic leaders are contacting congressional …

Arabs may one day miss George W. Bush  —  The Middle East cheered the Republican defeat in the recent American congressional elections.  The official Syrian daily Al-Baath labeled the elections a "painful blow," while the Saudi daily Al-Watan called for a "wise" policy from Washington …

Report: Italian tests positive for deadly toxin  —  Academic had lunch with ex-spy on day he fell ill; autopsy under way … LONDON - An Italian security expert who met with a former KGB agent the day the ex-spy fell fatally ill with radiation poisoning has also tested positive for the substance, British media reported Friday.

Has Obama become the front-runner for '08?  —  Ian blogged this yesterday but I got a solid e-mail from a friend about this this morning so I'm going to post on it again.  My politically savvy pal advises us to prepare for full-blown Obamamania: … He's hip, he's hot, he's not Hillary.  (Or is he?)

Tancredo protesters turn violent  —  Violence erupted at a Michigan law school Thursday when protestors tried to block a speech by Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo.  —  Police were called after protestors pulled a fire alarm prior to the speech on immigration policies.

MSM Finishing School  —  [Scroll for updates]  —  A long-time feeder to the mainstream media, Columbia's journalism school is currently training a new crop of grad students that are already cutting corners and flouting the rules just like the pros do it.

The Daily Troika: Obama's Secret Meet.  / Popma Endorses McCain  —  Sen. John McCain has signed up an important evangelical activist in Iowa.  Marlys Popma, a two time former exec. dir of the Iowa GOP and former presiden tof Iowa Right to Life, will join McCain's presidential exploratory committee.

The breaking of a country: Hizbullah takes to the streets of Beirut  —  Hundreds of thousands of Shias from the south have flooded two squares in downtown Beirut.  According to LBC, the Christian participation is weak, with even lesser participation by Beirut Sunnis.

Report on Corporate Rules Is Assailed  —  Investor groups sounded alarms yesterday after it emerged that a foundation with ties to a pair of well-heeled business donors and an executive battling civil charges had funded a controversial new report seeking to slash corporate regulation.

Idea of Rapid Withdrawal From Iraq Seems to Fade  —  In the cacophony of competing plans about how to deal with Iraq, one reality now appears clear: despite the Democrats' victory this month in an election viewed as a referendum on the war, the idea of a rapid American troop withdrawal is fast receding as a viable option.

STAR WARS REDUX:Democrats to Gut Missile Defense / Bush to Announce "Orbital Battle Station"  —  STAR WARS REDUX:DEMOCRATS TO GUT MISSILE DEFENSE / BUSH TO ANNOUNCE "ORBITAL BATTLE STATION"  —  In 2007 both Democrats and Republicans are going back into space with their pet peeves and passions intact.

GOP strategists: Impact of Romney's Mormonism exaggerated  —  WASHINGTON - The Mormon problem for Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's expected presidential run has been overblown, a panel of Republican strategists said Thursday.  —  "The Mormon issue is way overstated," said Mark McKinnon …